Boquete has grown with Jehovah's blessing and has prospered. Here are some of the "workers" in our field.
Our congregation has 42 cards on file and many others that come to help. We appreciate ALL the workers Jehovah as sent us. Please may he send us more !!
Below is a picture of all the sisters that are full time pioneers here now.
Pete and Buffy Conza are currently in the US seeing family. We miss them. They will be back soon we hope.
They have been a huge asset to the growth of the congregation. They were here from the very beginning of the start of the Group in Boquete. When the group here was formed there were only 8 people. Sanders were 1/2 of that, with 4 in their family.
It is now the WINDY season here in Boquete, Panama. We have had no rain for over 4 weeks, and this is normal. It will like not rain here again on a daily basis until late April or May. This past year ( june 2013) was a bit unusual as it did not rain until LATE June., and then only in small amounts.
That weather forecast does not include surrounding areas.......as they have their own odd patterns. For example;
In Caldera, only about 15 km from here it is hot, humid and hasn't rained in several months. Their weather is COMPLETELY different than in Boquete.
If you are not familiar with the term "Micro-climate" do a google search and learn what that means.
From my experience here for the last 2 years there are a number of "micro-climate" events all around the mountains here. The hills, valley's, dips and wrinkles that make up the Volcan Baru area also make for interesting and varied weather. In only a few miles, going from one small "township" to the next, the temperature can vary by as much as 10*F up or down.
SO...... if you want to move here check it out first !!! The weather you LOVE in one area......5 miles down the road will not exist.!!
THIS BREATHTAKING SUNRISE WAS OUT MY FRONT DOOR !!!
We just had the visit of our CO, Larry Klein. This visit was extremely beneficial to the combined congregations of English and Spanish, the most notable being that we finally got a new coat of paint on our Kingdom Hall and IT IS GORGEOUS !! No more pink and white strips (repair areas not painted). The Kingdom Hall is light Beige and very restful to the eye. We have a new sign by the front door with the meeting times listed ( one adjustment needed for Thursday night English- letters being bought soon).
And a new sign in the front yard at the corner of the property with both congregations properly listed and identified, "Salon del Reino de Testigo de Jehova", Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses". We have been waiting for this sign for over 2 years. It is nice to see it all in place.
This is before the new paint
Front side before the new paint.
We now have 42 publisher cards here on file, 20 pioneers, and last month 15 aux. Pioneers. Our territory is still producing Bible Studies, but like everywhere else finding them once is fairly easy, finding them 6 and 7 times nearly impossible. They either move to a new house, work 7 days a week, or go back and forth between countries !! every 6 months or so...... That last obstacle (leaving and returning between countries) is common here, as quite a few of the people we talk to don't actually live here full time. They migrate between countries.....
And so by necessity we have a number of "email" studies. Thank goodness for the computer age.And of interest to those who want to come and stay, here are a few of the recent changes in the laws that effect you....
If you want to come for longer than 6 months (without applying for residency statue) and you WILL NOT DRIVE a car during that time, YOU MUST still report to the border to have your passport stamped OUT of Panama. YOU MUST STAY OVERNIGHT IN COSTA RICA, Stamp OUT of Costa Rica the next morning (at least 1 calendar day from when you entered Costa Rica) and STAMP BACK INTO PANAMA. You must provide proof of A RETURN TICKET to your country of residency at the border when you want to come back into Panama. They are beginning to do random checks on the tickets to make sure they are valid.
Make sure that when you are at the border crossing you end up with FOUR (4) valid stamps to return to Panama. Any less than that and they will DEPORT you at the next border crossing !!! We recently had this happen to some visitors because they did not get stamped BACK IN to panama. They were forced to abandon their rental car, and the police took them to the border and made them buy a ticket home. No amount of explaining would make the police happy. They were fortunate to have a brother with them that was fluent in spanish,but ultimately that did not help either. They can not return for 5 years!!
So, baring any unforeseen occurrence like that, there are ways to stay in the country longer than 6 months, even permanently.
But naturally they all cost money.
Two ways: Pay through a Lawyer to purchase residency. (According to the web there is a way to do it without a Lawyer, but be prepared to spend a lot of YOUR TIME in government offices). The cost is approximately $1,200 to $1,500 dollars. Families can do it for only slightly more (around $200 extra per person) as they are given a "package" deal.
And, another alternative is Amnesty.
Amnesty is granted during certain "windows of opportunity" during the calendar year. This year it is offered from January 8th to January 20th. The cost is approx. $780.00 per person (not counting travel and hotel expenses). It is necessary to stay at least one night in Panama City, Panama (supposedly it can take as little as one day....but don't count on it). With the proper documentation you are given a 2 year visa, which can then (in two years) be extended for a longer stay.... It removes the need for border runs, you qualify for a Panamanian license, and other benefits. Do a web search for detailed information. There is also a u-tube video.
Ahhhh, yes. And my title mentions Great Sandwiches.
At the risk of this restaurant getting a "big head", (and for those of you without glutten alergies), by all means go and eat at "Sugar and Spice". They are expensive by Panama standards, but, oh my ! their sandwiches are to die for. I will try to include a picture of one of their sandwiches for the next post if I can control myself long enough to snap a picture and not just EAT it.
Ok so all for this post. I have a few funny stories I am saving for the next post.........
